CN1084301A - The method and apparatus of dispensing cups and Drink dispenser thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Cup under in automatic vending machine, from selected cup is folded, sending, comprise many cups that supporting is arranged in order, select the cup of a required dispensing folded, make selected cup under folded fall position below this folded remaining cup, and from the position that fallen by dispensing cups it is sent to one and is easy to the position that the user takes out, these cups folded (10) edge roughly becomes the scroll channel arrangement, and the cup of being sent (12) is transmitted and is sent to basically extracting position (29) from its lowering position along spirality channel.

Description

The method and apparatus of dispensing cups and Drink dispenser thereof

The present invention relates to a kind of method and apparatus, and relate to Drink dispenser by the cup under the dispensing in the selectable one folded cup.

The vending machine of being selected by the user of being furnished with various beverage is known.For this purpose, the cup that different basic batchings is housed is set up to divide folded mode, like this when the user has selected a kind of specific beverage for use, beneath cup in corresponding folding is won or is otherwise separated from folded, and is sent to a facile extracting position of user.

In European Patent Application No. the 89304127.7th, in the instructions of EP-A-0339946, many folded cups mode with the disk conveying belt on a support vertically is provided with circlewise.For a specific folded selection, swinging mounting reaches a distribution position up to selected being laminated to, and selected folded beneath cup is won in folded, and needn't stop the disk conveying belt.Cup under separation vessel with control lever is used for winning from folded.Separated cup reaches the position of a taking-up then, preferably in the whenever folded cup a kind of beverage composition is housed in advance, and other beverage composition is added selectively in a centre position, and the beverage ingredient of Jia Ruing then is the position in taking-up again.

An object of the present invention is to provide a kind of disposable system, wherein cup is folded in the dispensing cycle keeps static.

Method by the beneath cup of a folded middle dispensing of the selected cup from automatic vending machine of the present invention's proposition, it comprises the many folded cups of arranging in order of supporting, selection will be won a folded cup of a cup from it, make selected cup under folded fall into position below this folded remaining cup, and be sent to the facile extracting position of user from the cup that lowering position will be sent, particularly these folded cups are arranged along spirality channel basically, and the cup of being sent sequentially is sent to extracting position from its lowering position along a spirality channel.

Preferably the passage of cup around its spiral center basically spirality ground extend a circle or more than the circle.

Preferably extracting position also is a job position.

This method preferably includes the step that adds entry or carbonic liquids at extracting position in the cup of dispensing.

It preferably also is included in cup is suspended.

The beverage composition that adds at middle job position is preferably arranged in the cup of being sent, or a kind of beverage composition is housed in advance, and another kind of beverage composition adds at middle job position.

The cup of being sent preferably begins the spirality channel after its lowering position, stretches out continuously along the continuous passage around the spiral center then, arrives extracting position.

Preferably the cup of being sent drops on the basal plane, and is pushed along basal plane from its position, whereabouts, by any middle job position thereafter, arrives extracting position.Preferably the cup of being sent can promote around the pivot arm that a Z-axis rotates by one.

The present invention also proposes to select the folded device of sending beneath cup of cup from one automatic vending machine, it comprises the parts of many folded cups that supporting is arranged in order, select a folded cup also to send the parts of a cup from it, make selected folded beneath cup fall the parts of the beneath position of folded remaining cup, and cup that will dispensing is sent to easily the parts of the extracting position that is obtained by the user from its lowering position, it is characterized in that the folded cups of number along a helical basically passage setting, and transfer member to be the cup that can will be sent sequentially be sent to extracting position from its position, whereabouts along spirality channel with turning round.

Preferably the passage of cup is substantially around spiral center extension one circle or more than the circle.

The basal plane that a cup that is distributed falls thereon preferably is set, and position and transmission passage extracting position between of this basal plane below the first folded cup extends.This basal plane preferably originates in the spirality channel of a folded cup position at least in the end, stretches out along the continuous passage around the spiral center continuously then, until extracting position.

Transfer member is a swivel arm preferably, and it can rotate around Z-axis, is promoted from its position, whereabouts by swivel arm by the cup sent,, separates with cup at extracting position by the inner channel of the cup sent up to the outer end of swivel arm.

Preferably basal plane has an annular sidewall, and swivel arm has such shape, and its outer end portion is hangover shape, and the cup that is beneficial to outwards promote to be distributed contacts with the annular sidewall, and helps to keep the direction of motion of cup.

Swivel arm preferably has one by the sense of rotation starting point before the folded cup in the end, reach a commentaries on classics or go back to the commentaries on classics cycle more, in first revolution, the cup that this arm contact is sent, and at the same time or in revolution subsequently, the outer end of this arm is passed through by the inboard of cup.

Job position in the middle of preferably being provided with, and middle job position setting in the middle of cup arrives during job position in the cup that quilt is sent the parts of adding beverage composition.In one embodiment, described middle job position is in the end one to fold between position and the extracting position.

The parts that add entry or carbonic liquids in the cup that quilt is sent preferably are set at extracting position.

The present invention also further provides a kind of automatic vending machine, and it has the method and apparatus of the beneath cup of aforesaid dispensing selected one folded cup.

As an example, will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings by a special embodiment of the present invention, wherein

Fig. 1 has shown that one is used for sending beneath cup is got the extracting position of cup to the user automatic vending machine from a selected folded cup;

Fig. 2 illustrates the horizontal sectional view around Z-axis supporting one a folded cup.

Fig. 3 and 4 illustrates the operation of winning parts of the cup under separating from selected one folded cup.

Fig. 5 to 8 illustrates the step of cup from its lowering position to its take-off location that transmission is sent.

With reference to accompanying drawing, at automatic vending machine of in cup, preparing selected various beverages by the user this illustrate.Taking-up/the liquid in conjunction with one that aforesaid this machine, this machine have job position 28 in the middle of and user to be easy to get cup is allocated position 29 into.In the cup that having clearly illustrated general required fundamental component such as coffee, tea, chocolate, soup, fruit beverage etc. are added in advance, vertical stacks stacks.When a kind of beverage of needs, operate this machine by the user, this cup 12 under folded of dispensing from a folded suitable cup of selecting, and add other required composition such as sugar and/or water or carbonate liquid and make this beverage.In the present embodiment, the machine of selecting required beverage is by filling in coin and started by coin from stitching 50.Forms such as also available card starting or free sale are replaced.

By action button 40, provide relevant given fundamental component and selection to be with or without sugar, perhaps heat or cold water, perhaps cold water or carbonate liquid.When one of button 40 is pressed, machine startup, the cup 12 from a folded suitable cup 10 under separately, and job position 28 in the middle of the cup that separates is sent to if necessary, can pass through parts 35 sugarings.This cup is delivered to extracting position then forward, and this position also is the position of allocating liquid in the present embodiment, and at this heat or cold water, perhaps carbonate liquid joins in the cup by parts 36.When selected one folded cup is sky, machine will show the signal of " having sold ".At extracting position, a slide 41 is arranged, the user can utilize it to get the cup of being sent.

The present invention allocates the layout of position 29 about the folded cup of number into respect to taking-up/liquid, and selected one folded beneath cup 12 is sent to user's device from the position that descends.Other details of this machine is conventional, and does not need to further describe.

Many folded cups 10 vertically are bearing on the capstan head 11, and this capstan head 11 is manual, as rotation, so that in machine, add clean cup, but in other cases, motionless in the maintenance in service of machine.In the present embodiment, be added with various basic beverage compositions in the cup 10 in advance, but if desired, at least one folded empty cup can be arranged.

Shown in the horizontal sectional view of Fig. 2, along an alternate order setting of arching trajectory, this arching trajectory encloses with respect to its center helical one 8 folded cups 10 in the present embodiment basically by counterclockwise.As shown in the figure, preceding 3 folded cups 10 by from the spiral center with a radius setting that increases gradually, all the other folded cups are arranged on bigger but on the radius that remains unchanged.Term " spiral " so just comprises one by several folded cup 10 tactic arching trajectorys, and the radius that begins from the spiral center is less than its end at least.In other embodiments, the folded quantity of cup can differently for example 12 be folded, arrange along same helical trajectory, under the situation of 12 folded cups, generally can make preceding 4 folded cups with respect to other folded cup from the center of spiral with a radius setting that increases gradually.These folded cups also can with respect to the spiral center be less than one the circle or more than one the circle a helical duct setting.

Be a fixedly bottom surface 13 below capstan head 11, by the landing of the cup sent thereon, it provides a basal plane, and cup 12 is sent to taking-up/liquid and allocates in position 29 and the user's hand thereon.What extend on around bottom surface 13 peripheries is sidewall 14, and it defines a passage that transmits cup 12.In upstream or the inner of passage, side is moulded with bottom surface 13 and is separated for following purpose.

With respect to first or that folded cup 10 of the inside, job position 28 in the middle of its passage that is limited by sidewall 14 arrives along with cup coiled coil shape is arranged, in the present embodiment, this position is to abut against last folded back, but it can be consistent with last folded position.At middle job position 28, supply part 35 is used for adding a kind of beverage composition or another kind of beverage composition, is that sugar is added in the cup of being sent 12 in the present embodiment.Also because cup coiled coil shape is provided with, and annular sidewall 14 itself overlaps and define a door 34, the cup of being sent 12 is sent to taking-up/liquid by this door and allocates position 29 into.Cup is towards having the direction of radially outer parts with respect to the spirality center, and in the present embodiment, it is tangent with continuous passage basically, and this passage is around spiral center and the center by cup.

The parts 15 of the cup 12 under winning from selected folding are housed in whenever folded lower end (seeing Fig. 3 and 4).This wins parts 15 is the conventional parts that use basically, but in the present embodiment, but other operates by the bar 16 that a pair of upper end is connected the vertical movement on the shared driving shaft 51, and axle 51 has rectangular cross section and is connected with motor 42 drivings by gear case 52.Each end at axle 51 has a cam 53 that is installed in rotationally in the bearing 55, and the upper end of bar 16 is respectively by mounted thereto prejudicially.Be installed in axle with rotating fixed form on 51 is the output gear 54 of gear case 52 substantially concentricly.Operating electrical machines 42 makes axle 51 and cam 53 rotate a circle, and provides reciprocal moving up and down to two bars 16 thus, and the cup 12 under bar 16 makes is won.Each is won parts 15 and comprises a pair of bar 17,18 that radially relatively is installed on the fixed side 45.Each right upper boom 17 is installed on the relevant plate 45 by its bottom, and it has the flexibility of a sheet spring, so that bar can and essentially horizontally be stretched motion (Fig. 4) between the position below the bead 20 of the penult cup 27 of corresponding folded cup at bandy position (Fig. 3).Each right lower beam 18 is installed on the corresponding plate 45 by a pivot pin 22, and it has a fork-shaped the inner.Support this folded cup 10 below the bead 20 of the underarm 25 of the forked end of each lower beam 18 by the cup 13 under meshing.The upper arm 26 of fork by the motion of the downward pivot of the forked end of respective lower bars 18 from this folded along with respective lower bars 18 the pivot that makes progress motion and the contact upper boom below each upper boom 17 of realization outwardly-bent, and when the fork of lower beam rotated cup under winning, upper boom relied on the elasticity of self to realize inwardly motion.Each lower beam 18 pivotally is connected to the bottom of bar 16 separately.

Fig. 3 shows the initial position of winning the folded cup 10 on the underarm 25 of forked end that bar 17 and 18 is supported on lower beam 18.Along with the running of corresponding motor 42 drives moving upward of bar 16, the forked end of lower beam 18 is changeed upper arm 26 that (Fig. 4) makes the forked end of lower beam 18 cup 12 under winning from folded cup 10 downwards.Remaining cup in the folded simultaneously cup also falls, and the upper boom 17 below the bead 20 that moves inwardly to penult cup 27 is caught.The beneath cup 12 that comes off is fallen on the base plate 13 of this folded beneath position (Fig. 4).When the reciprocating operation of bar 16 turns to when moving downward, rotate lower beam 18, to lift forked end, upper boom is because the effect of the upper arm 26 of forked end is outwardly-bent like this, and the underarm 25 of forked end is engaged on below the bead 20 of the above-mentioned penult cup 27 that becomes the next folded end.

Allocate position 29 into for cup 12 laterally is sent to taking-up/liquid from its lowering position (Figure 4 and 5), provided a pivoted arm 31 that is contained on the Z-axis 30.Axle 30 and pivoted arm 31 are rotated, motor is by a micro processor controls, as requested or continuously or stepping ground and with speed operation substantially invariable or that change, concerning present embodiment, pivoted arm 31 is controlled in certain hour and finishes rev with a constant speed, and ends revolution at middle job position 28 between revolution one by one.Yet in another embodiment, pivoted arm may only be slowed down at middle job position.The annular trace of pivoted arm 31 outer ends represented by dotted line 32, and pivoted arm 31 is designed to and can and inwardly charges between the lower edge of the annulus wall 14 in the swing annular region of arm 13 and pass through at base plate 13.At this, annulus wall 14 upcountry protrudes in the annular region by pivoted arm 31 swings.Pivoted arm 31 also is made into definite shape, so that outer end 33 is hangover shapes, makes the cup of being sent on the inside surface of annulus wall 14 by the outside backup of pivoted arm.This effect of arm 31 helps guiding cup to move along required passage, the passage middle job position 28 after particularly, and at this, cup is pushed over door 34 arrival taking-up/liquid that limited by annulus wall 14 and allocates position 29 into.

In the present embodiment, pivoted arm 31 has a reference position (Fig. 5) that is positioned at the front of last folded cup 10 on rotation direction, and comprises twice revolution of this pivoted arm in each running period.In revolution for the first time, the lowering position of pivoted arm 31 below selected the folding that cup has been won contacts (Fig. 6) with the cup of being sent 12, and this cup is sent to middle job position 28(Fig. 7).If desired, after a required stagnation that adds the beverage composition in cup, pivoted arm 31 carries out its second revolution.At first cup continues to move along a rotating channel of 30 axis around the shaft, the door 34 that is limited by annulus wall 14.Later on annulus wall 14 is along a beeline channel, and this passage makes always the cup 12 that keeps in touch with its inside surface be directed to the direction (see figure 2) tangent basically with the continuous circular shape track 32 of pivoted arm 31.The inboard of cup 12 is skimmed in the outer end of pivoted arm 31 in other words, allocates position 29 at taking-up/liquid and separates (Fig. 8) with cup.After finishing revolution for the second time, pivoted arm 31 stops, so that pivoted arm is positioned as shown in Figure 5 once more, thinks that the next cycle of operation prepares.

In operation, the user uses button 40 to select required beverage, a kind of potpourri that it one of comprises in several folded cups 10, if desired, 28 sugar that add in the centre position reach at taking-up/liquid and allocate the liquid that position 29 adds into, are hot water or cold water or carbonate liquid in the present embodiment.Drive to separate this cup 12 under folded by the operation of separately motor 42 with the selected folded parts 15 of winning that combine, make cup fall that (Figure 4 and 5) start main drive motor 43 then on the following base plate 13, so that pivoted arm 31 rotates by its first revolution, in first revolution of pivoted arm 31, it contacts (Fig. 6) with the cup of being sent 12, and job position 28(Fig. 7 in the middle of along base plate 13 cup being shifted onto), the outer end portion 33 of its back is this cup of guiding outwards, and makes the bead of cup keep contacting with the annulus wall 14 of base plate.When cup 12 is in the centre job position, if come sugaring by supply part 35, pivoted arm 31 will suspend rotation in the present embodiment.After the time delay of setting, motor 43 is started once more, and pivoted arm is rotated by its second revolution.Pushed away by pivoted arm 31 at the first's cup 12 that rotates and to arrive taking-up/liquid by door 34 and allocate position 29 into.Pivoted arm 31 is allocated the position at liquid thus and is broken away from cup through the inboard (Fig. 8) of cup then, and turns back to its reference position (Fig. 5).Simultaneously, required liquid is allocated in the cup 12 by parts 36, and the user opens slide 14 and is easy to get this cup.

In pivoted arm 31 second rotating terminals, as long as the pivoted arm no show first folded cup 10, its accurate stop position not exclusively is the starting point of being given.Yet can being used for monitoring, second revolution completely of pivoted arm 31 whether have other cup to fall mistakenly on base plate 31.If pivoted arm 31 contacts a cup, then provide a signal, before machine entered the duty of next circulation starting, this cup can be removed like this.In other words, to the monitoring of cup passage, machine enter work for next user before, in the further turning course of pivoted arm 31, be achieved.

As can be seen, it is optional that middle operation position is arranged on the back of last folded cup.Interchangeable is that middle job position can be set at those folded back that need a middle sessions, or those do not need those folded fronts of sugaring.In such layout, a revolution of pivoted arm 31 just can by centre position (if necessary), be sent to taking-up/liquid and allocate the position into the cup of being sent from its lowering position fully if desired.

Above-mentioned these folded cups 10 to the advantage of helix shape are, it is compact to design, and wherein taking-up/liquid is allocated into outside the annular trace that position 29 is set at pivoted arm 31.Having liquid to spatter in the cup outside if allocate position 29 at taking-up/liquid thus, perhaps is that the liquid that can not outside being sprinkled upon by the user is run on the pivoted arm 31.The cross pollution that occurs in the beverage room of being sent successively by machine is avoided like this.

Another advantage of described layout is that folded the shifting out of extracting position cup from machine prevents that the user from attempting not machine and just obtain a cup.By between extracting position and cup are folded, constitute actual obstacle by arm 31 at stop position, this protection is also strengthened.

Claims (20)

1, the method of the cup that a kind of folded dispensing from selected cup in the automated beverage vending machine is beneath, comprising supporting many folded cups by folded order, select institute's dispensing cups cup of wanting to fold, make selected folded beneath cup drop to the position of the bottom of this folded cup that is left, and the cup that quilt is sent is sent to the position that the user is easy to take out from its lowering position, it is characterized in that these folded cups (10) basically along a spiral track setting, and the cup of being sent (12) transmits and arrives basically extracting position (29) from its lowering position along spiral trajectory.

2, according to the process of claim 1 wherein that the passage of cup (10) extends a circle or more than the circle around the spiral center convolution basically.

3, according to the method for claim 1 or 2, wherein extracting position (29) also is a job position.

4,, be included in the step that extracting position (29) (12) in the cup that quilt is sent adds water or carbonate liquid according to the method for claim 3.

5, according to the method for claim 3 or 4, the middle job position (28) that is included between cup lowering position and the extracting position (29) suspends cup (12).

6, according to the method for claim 5, wherein the cup of being sent (12) has at the additional beverage composition of middle job position (28), or adds a kind of beverage composition in advance, and at the additional another kind of beverage composition of middle job position.

7, according to the method for claim 5 or 6, wherein the cup of being sent (12) follows the spirality channel of its lowering position back at first closely, outwards continues along the continuous passage around the spiral center then, arrives extracting position (29).

8, according to the method for above-mentioned each claim, wherein the cup of being sent (12) is fallen on the basal plane (13), and along basal plane from its lowering position, the middle job position (28) by thereafter is pulled to extracting position (29).

9, according to the method for claim 8, wherein the cup of being sent (12) can promote around the pivoted arm (31) that a Z-axis rotates by one.

10, the device of the cup under in the automated beverage vending machine, from selected one folded cup, sending, the parts that comprise the many folded cups of arranging in certain sequence of supporting, from a folded cup, select the parts of the dispensing cups of wanting, make selected folded beneath cup drop on the device of a position below this folded cup that is left, and the device that is sent to the position that the user is easy to take out by the cup sent from its lowering position, it is characterized in that these cups are folded basically along helical channel arrangement, and transfer member (31) is to be used for the cup of being sent (12) is transmitted along spirality channel from its lowering position, and is sent to extracting position basically (29).

11, according to the device of claim 10, wherein the passage of cup (10) is substantially around spiral center extension one circle or more than the circle.

12, according to the device of claim 10 or 11, a basal plane (13) that allows the cup (12) sent fall into wherein is set, this basal plane stretches along position and the transmission passage between the extracting position (29) below the first folded cup.

13, according to the device of claim 12, wherein basal plane (13) at first along spirality channel at least facing to last folded position, the continuous passage around the spiral center continues to stretch out and arrives extracting position (29) then.

14, according to each device in the claim 10 to 13, wherein drive disk assembly is a pivoted arm (31) that can rotate around Z-axis, this arm is pushing away cup skims over the cup of being sent up to the outer end of pivoted arm passage inboard from the position that the cup of being sent (12) falls always, breaks away from extracting position (29) and cup.

15, according to the device of claim 14, wherein basal plane (13) has a circumferential wall (14), and pivoted arm (31) has the outer end portion (33) of dragging after, helps like this cup of being sent (12) is contacted with circumferential wall to extrapolation, and keeps the direction of cup thus.

16, according to the device of claim 14 or 15, wherein pivoted arm (31) has one in the end one to fold cup (10) starting point before on rotation direction, reach a commentaries on classics or go back to the commentaries on classics cycle more, during first revolution, arm with contacted by the cup (12) sent and during same or subsequently revolution, the inboard of cup passage is skimmed in the outside of arm.

17, according to each device in the claim 10 to 16, job position (28) in the middle of wherein providing one, and one be located in the middle of the parts (35) of job position in the middle of being arrived during job position by the cup (12) sent, these parts add beverage in cup.

18, according to the device of claim 17, wherein middle job position (28) is set between last folded position and the extracting position (29).

19,, wherein the parts (36) that add water or carbonate liquid in the cup that quilt is sent are set at extracting position (29) according to the described device of above-mentioned each claim.

20, has the automatic vending machine of folding the method and apparatus of (12) beneath cup (10) with the selected cup of the described dispensing of above-mentioned each claim.

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